Nigeria’s National Open Senior Judo Championships are set to return in Umuahia, Abia State, following several years without the event, as leading judokas across the country prepare for a six-day competition designed to reinvigorate the discipline and reconnect its stakeholders.
The Nigeria Judo Federation, working with the Abia State Government, will stage the tournament at Umuahia Township Stadium between October 31 and November 5, 2026.
Its revival follows a difficult year marked by internal disagreements and administrative problems within Nigerian judo. The federation’s Interim Caretaker Committee, chaired by Sheriff Hammed, intends to use the championships as an opportunity to reconcile members of the judo community and rebuild trust in the sport.
Hammed credited the National Sports Commission for helping to restore order in the federation, singling out NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director General Bukola Olopade for their roles in promoting peace and stability.
“We must bring back judo’s reputation as a united and peaceful sport,” Hammed said. “The problems within the sport caused many judokas to lose enthusiasm, but this competition offers a chance to reunite everybody and start afresh.”
Competition will be held across seven weight classes for both men and women. The men’s divisions are -60kg, -66kg, -73kg, -81kg, -90kg, -100kg and +100kg, while the women will contest -48kg, -52kg, -57kg, -63kg, -70kg, -78kg and +78kg.
Former African Games gold medallist and Olympian Katherine Ewa described the championship’s return as an important development for competitors and for the wider growth of judo in Nigeria.
Ewa recalled that the previous national competition of a comparable scale took place when Senator Orji Uzor Kalu served both as Nigeria Judo Federation president and as Governor of Abia State. She also praised the present Abia State administration for backing the effort to revive the event.
“It is very positive to have a national championship back, particularly one that includes prize money for the athletes,” Ewa said. “That will encourage those already competing and also draw more young people into judo.”
The Umuahia championships are expected to generate fresh nationwide interest in the sport while creating an avenue to identify emerging judo talent.
